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Stuck chuck

M

Mark Warden

Joined
Feb 9, 2009
Messages
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Location
Sinking Spring Pa.
This morning while I was putting my chuck on with a blank attached the phone rang the chuck was only threaded on about 3/4 of the way.After hanging up I walked over and turned the lathe on and it threaded itself the rest of the way.Now I can't get the chuck off any suggestions?
 
stuck

i believe Mike Stafford suggested using an oil filter circular band grip, not sure that is the correct name for it, but you should be able to grip with it

good luck 😱😀
 
Lock you spindle, and remove your blank.
Open up your jaws and put in a heavy dowel, stick, or metal bar between the hoizontal gap. (see picture)
Tighten your jaws, and use the board for leverage.
 

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You could clamp a piece of rebar (5/8", 3/4" ??) in the chuck cross-ways for a "handle". Square bar stock might be better, as it would be held closer to the chuck body.
 
Last edited:
I'll add one more suggestion to the above --- Tap (lightly) the chuck adapter with a hammer while applying force on the bar.

Charlie M
 
SMarlow said:
Lock you spindle, and remove your blank.
Open up your jaws and put in a heavy dowel, stick, or metal bar between the hoizontal gap. (see picture)
Tighten your jaws, and use the board for leverage.
Click to expand...

Did this but the chuck just unscrewed from the adapter. I broke the little bar that came with the chuckfor taking it off so I can't even try the rest until I find something that fits in the hole to try to turn it. I'm thinking if I try heat i'll trash the bearings??? Thanks for the replies. BTW A drill bit in the hole don't work but now I have 2 short bits.
 
if you can get help from someone do as above withe the bars, with help have them pull on the bar.(with a lot of pressure have them brace for the snap when it comes loose.) Take a brass hammer and tap on the hex part of the bushing on the chuck. With the pressure on and the tapping it should come loose want hurt to spray wd40 on it.Good Luck
 
Mark Warden said:
Did this but the chuck just unscrewed from the adapter. I broke the little bar that came with the chuckfor taking it off so I can't even try the rest until I find something that fits in the hole to try to turn it. I'm thinking if I try heat i'll trash the bearings??? Thanks for the replies. BTW A drill bit in the hole don't work but now I have 2 short bits.
Click to expand...

If you had an adapter, then you should remove the chuck and use a BaW on the hex. Tap with a brass drift or something first to try and break the modest cross-thread that's holding it tight.

Then, not knowing what kind of lathe you have, take your best option to hold the spindle against turning and rap the handle of the BaW smartly a couple times. You got it wedged with a smack, it needs to release with a smack.

Some of these modern lathes are pretty flabby with the lock, so you might use that strap wrench on the pulleys instead.
 
Yes John that is exactly what I needed. Just ordered 1 in case it ever happens again. It's a grizzly 14" lathe and a grizzly chuck the adapter has no nut on it just a round sleve with 2 holes and they give you a cheap little steel pin for removal like I said I broke that. The spanner wrench looks like the ticket. Thanks again everyone.
 
SMarlow said:
Lock you spindle, and remove your blank.
Open up your jaws and put in a heavy dowel, stick, or metal bar between the hoizontal gap. (see picture)
Tighten your jaws, and use the board for leverage.
Click to expand...

I've never had this particular problem, so am glad to get some input.....just in case the need occurs! This is a good solution from SMarlow.....I'll remember that.

I've always locked the spindle and used the chuck key to break the chuck loose.......but, I've never jammed the chuck by turning on the lathe. Now that I've said that, it'll probably happen within a week! 😱

ooc
 
Ok, I was kidding about the freezer, but I am not kidding now.
Get a 1/2 lb of dry ice and make some sort of donut with it and some newspaper or rag, and chill that whole chuck adaptor and spindle down for 10 minutes.

Then take a hair dryer and warm up the adaptor as quick as you can for say 30 seconds, and then try. The spindle should be still cold and the adaptor warm(er) and it should come loose.

In the future, make a washer out of a milk container or tupperware and put it between the chuck and the part of the spindle that it bottoms on, and that should prevent this problem.
You can buy these washers, but home made is just as good.
 
Pipe wrench!

I keep one hanging on the wall above the lathe, a 2 footer! I started using the nylon/delrin washer right after viewing this post, never had one stick bad enough to add a "persuader" to the pipe wrench though 🙂 Glad you got the dam thing off!
 
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